Dedicated to Preserving
the Memory and Legacy of the Berlin Airlift of 1948-1949

The Berlin Airlift
Historical Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of thegreatest humanitarian/aviationevent in history, The Berlin Airlift.

Our Mission is to preserve this
memory by preserving several aircraft used in the great event and creating
"Flying Memorials and Classrooms" with the purpose of educating the public about
this pivotal, yet forgotten, event in world history.

WHAT WAS THE BERLIN
AIRLIFT?

On June 24, 1948, the Soviet
Union blocked all road and rail travel to and from West Berlin, cutting
off the city from any outside supplies, which were desperately needed
for survival. On June 26, 1948, the first planes took off from bases in
England and western Germany and landed in West Berlin. It was a daunting
logistical task to provide food, clothing, water, medicine, and other
necessities of life for the over 2 million fearful citizens of the city.
For nearly a year, American and British planes landed around the clock.
Over 200,000 planes carried in more than two-and-a-half million tons of
supplies

Founded in 1988, the Foundation has obtained and restored
to flying condition, a Douglas C-54E
transport aircraft, which helped support the C-54's which carried
out this great mission. Named "SPIRIT OF FREEDOM", the aircraft is
painted to represent the 48th Troop Carrier Squadron, one of the many
groups which carried out the event. Inside, the "SPIRIT", is
a genuine museum dedicated to the Berlin Airlift, filled with artifacts,
displays, and information explaining this all important event in recent
history.

In 1996, the Foundation has
also taken on an even BIGGER challenge: The Boeing
C-97. This large
4-engined aircraft is the only C-97 flying in the world today. The
Foundation purchased this aircraft in 1996, and is planning to create a flying
exhibit dedicated to the Berlin Airlift and the Cold War.

11/07/2017 BIG NEWS! The "Angel of
Deliverance" returns to the skies!!

Keeping Berlin Airlift Legacy Alive!!

Timothy Chopp, founder and
president of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, was presented with the
prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by
Ambassador Klaus Scharioth on January 18, 2011 in the presence of family,
friends, Airlift veterans and crew members of his "Spirit of Freedom",
an historic Douglas C-54 converted into a flying Airlift museum.

In his speech, Ambassador Scharioth praised
Chopp's enduring commitment to preserve for future generations the legacy of the
Berlin Airlift which, through the heroic efforts of the United States and her
allies, saved more than two million blockaded Berliners from hunger, cold, and
communist rule. He pointed out that since the creation of the New Jersey-based
Airlift Foundation in 1988, Tim Chopp and his Spirit of Freedom have brought the
story of one of the greatest humanitarian relief efforts of all time and of
the lasting bond of friendship it created between the American and German people
to countless audiences all over the United States as well as in Europe

Among the guests gathered for the occasion at the
ambassador's residence in Washington was Colonel USAF (ret.) Gail Halvorsen,
Airlift veteran and famed "candy bomber". Adding his words to
Ambassador Scharioth’s, he reminded the audience of how this remarkable relief
operation and the deeply felt gratitude of the Berliners forever changed the
relations between the former enemies, and how the Berlin Airlift continues to
stand out as a monument to the guiding principle of "service before
self".

To end the ceremony on a lighter note, childhood
friend and long-time flight crew member Danny Urbaniak gave some humorous
insights into Tim Chopp’s resilience, resourcefulness, and his outstanding
negotiating skills. He pointed out that the "Spirit of Freedom" had
often taken off with just enough fuel in the tank for its next destination, but
always managed to get enough gas for the trip home.

Ambassador Scharioth with Tim Chopp
and the crew of the "Spirit of Freedom".

The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation is a non-profit educational
group that exists to educate the public. We operate largely on donations
and continued support by dedicated volunteers. Without your support, these
aircraft will be scrap metal, and a great defining chapter in history will be
gone. The Foundation is listed in IRS Publication 78 as a 501(c) (3) tax exempt charity. The Foundation tax exempt
documents are available for public inspection upon request by writing to the
Foundation at P.O. Box 782 Farmingdale, NJ 07727